Adjustable swinging arm unit for reading lamps



Dec. 16, 1952 FLETCHER 2,621,882

ADJUSTABLE SWINGING ARM UNIT FOR READING LAMPS Filed Sept. 22, 1948 2 SHEETSSHEET l JNVENTOR. MILTON FLETCHER Dec. 16, 1952 r M. FLETCHER 2,621,882

ADJUSTABLE SWINGING ARM UNIT FQR READING LAMPS Filed Sept. 22, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR. MILTON FLETCHER Patented Dec. 16, 1952 ADJUSTABLE SWINGING ARM UNIT FOR READING LAMPS Milton Fletcher, New York, N. Y.

Application September 22, 1948, Serial No. 50,622

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a reading lamp.

More particularly, the present invention relates to the construction of an novel reading lamp which may be quickly and easily clamped in position on a desk or similar support and which has a lamp head universally supported thereon in a manner to be capable of being shifted as may be desired to illuminate any object on a, table or the like or any sheet of paper in a typewriter and the copy work on the desk alongside of the typewriter.

Still further it is proposed to characterize the lamp by a hollow base for housing a transformer and provided with an adjustable clamp jaw for engaging the bottom of the desk top in a manner to cooperate with the bottom of the hollow base for clamping the lamp in position on the desk top.

Another object of the present invention proposes the provision of a vertical arm and means for connecting the lower end of the vertical arm to the hollow base so that itmay be turned on a horizontal axis or on a vertical axis in a manner to universally attach the lower end of the vertical arm to the base.

Stil1 another object of the invention proposes the provision of a horizontal arm and means for pivotally connecting the end of the horizontal arm to the upper end of the vertical arm in a manner to be pivoted about a horizontal axis relative to the vertical arm to raise and lower the opposite end of the horizontal arm.

A further object of the present invention proposes the provision of a novel means for universally mounting the lamp head upon the free end of the horizontal arm in a manner so that the lamp may be adjusted relative to the horizontal arm about horizontal axes which extend at right angles to each other.

The present invention also proposes constructiIlg the arms of tubular material and forming all of the connections between the various parts of the lamp with passageways therethrough so that all wires for the lamp within the lamp head may be passed through the arms and hollow connections.

It is a further object of this invention to construct a lamp which is simple and durable and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the reading lamp constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of Fig. 2, looking from the left side thereof.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial vertical sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a partial horizontal sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a partial vertical sectional view taken on the line 1-! of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the parts per se of one of the joints.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the lamp head per se looking from the back thereof.

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of the lamp head, per se.

Fig. 11 is a partial vertical section taken on the line I l-I I of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line I2--I2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line I3I3 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a partial longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on the line I l-I4 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 15 is a partial perspective view of one of the halves of the clamp.

The reading lamp, in accordance with the present invention, includes a hollow box-like base I0 having an open bottom and a compartment I I therein for housing a transformer I2. The open bottom of the base II] is closed by means of a plate I3 secured in position by several screws I4, one of which is seen in Fig. 3, passed upwards from the bottom face of the plate I3. At points where the screws I4 threadedly engage the base Hi, the side walls of the base are thickened by means of bosses I 5 providing a better grip for the screws I4. The transformer I2 is mounted on the top face of the plate i3 to be projected into the compartment H of the base It when the plate I3 is mounted in position across the open bottom of the base. Thhe bottom face of the plate I3 is adapted to rest on the top face of a desk top or other support It, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, adjacent one edge thereof.

The bottom face of the plate I3 has depended therefrom a pair of fixedly mounted vertical screws I1. A movable jaw I8 is vertically slidably mounted on the screws l1 and has an ofiset portion l9 which is adapted to engage the bottom face of the desk top or other support l5. The top face of the offset portion |9 is formed with serrations 20, see Fig. 3, for tightly gripping the bottom face of the desk top or other support. A wing nut 2| is threadedly engaged on each of the screws H for holding the movable jaw I8 in an adjusted position in which the edge portion of the desk top or other support IE will be tightly clamped between the adjacent faces of the movable jaw H! and the plate I3.

A vertical arm 22 extends vertically from the base l and a horizontal arm 23 extends laterally from one side of the top end of the vertical arm 22. The arms 22 and 23 are formed of tubular stock. A joint 24 indirectly connects the bottom end of the vertical arm 22 to the base l3 so that the vertical arm 22 may be pivoted about a horizontal axis relative to the'base H). A second joint 25 connects the adjacent ends of the arms 22 and 23 so that the horizontal arm 23 may be pivoted about a horizontal axis relative to the vertical arm 22.

Each of the joints 24 and 25 is alike in con-- struction and each comprises a pair of opposed cup-shaped members 25 and 21 which are circular in transverse cross-section and which are turnably connected together with their open sides contacting each other, see Fig. 4. The cupshaped member 21 of each joint is formed with an inwardly extending tubular boss 28 which extends into and abuts the inside face of the cupshaped member 26. A bolt 29 has its head seated within a complementary recess 39 formed in the outside face of the cup-shaped member 29 so as to securely hold the bolt 29 against rotation. The threaded shank of the bolt 29 is passed through the side wall of the cup-shaped member 25 and concentrically through the tubular boss 28.

Within the tubular boss 23 there is concentrically mounted on the threaded shank of the bolt 29, and expansion coil spring 3| and a washer 32. A pair of lock nuts 33 threadedly engage the extended end of the bolt 29 and hold the coil spring 3| under suflicient tension to hold the cupshaped members 25 and 21 in proper facial engagement with each other and still permit movement of the cup-shaped members relative to each other about the bolt 29 as their horizontal axis.

Each of the cup-shaped members 26 and 21 are formed with radially extending bosses 34 and the bosses adjacent the ends of the arms 22 and 23 are internally threaded so that the adjacent ends of the arms 22 and 23 may be connected with their respective cup-shaped members 26 or 21. The bosses 34 are of a diameter to overlap the adjacent cup-shaped members 29 or 21, as shown in Fig. 4. Thus, the cup-shaped members 25 and 21 may be turned relative to each other until the bosses 34 contact each other limiting further turning in the direction in which the cup-shaped members were being turned.

Means is provided to connect the cup-shaped member 21 of the joint 24 to the base l0 so that it may be turned about a vertical axis which movement will be transmitted to the vertical arm 22 through the joint 24. This means comprises a tubular bushing 35 having a bottom outwardly extending flange 39 clamped between an upper section 31 and a lower section 38 of a nut 39. The upper section 31 is formed with an outwardly extending flange 40 which engages the top face of the base HI and a tubular portion which rotatively extends into the base ID. The lower section 38 is threadedly engaged into the upper section 31 and is formed with an outwardly extending flange 4|. An expansion spring 42 within the base Ill operates between the adjacent faces of the flange 4| and the inside face of the top wall of the base I9 holding the nut 39 in a lowered position in which the bottom face of the flange 49 engages the top face of the top wall of the base ID. The spring 42 permits a slight vertical movement of the nut 39 relative to the base In.

The material of the top wall of the base In surrounding the nut 39 is formed with an inwardly extending projection 43 which engages a I vertical groove 44 formed in the side of the upper section 31 of the nut 39 for retaining the nut against rotation while leaving the same free to move vertically against the holding action of the spring 42.

The tubular bushing 35 is rotative within the nut 39 and the boss 34 of the cup-shaped member 21 of the joint 24 is formed with a downwardly extending externally threaded projection 45 which is threadedly engaged into the upper end of the tubular bushing 35 connecting the joint 24 to the rotatively mounted tubular bushing 35 so that when the bushing 35 rotates about its vertical axis, the joint 24 and parts supported thereby will be similarly rotated.

A lug 49 extends from the upper section 31 of the nut 39 and extends into a groove 41 formed in the top face of the flange 35 of the tubular bushing 35. At one point the flange 35 of the tubular bushing 35 is formed with a radial projection 49 which is adapted to be engaged by the lug 45 to restrict rotation of the tubular bushing 35 in any one direction relative to the nut 39; thus, the bushing 35 may be rotated in either direction through a distance slightly less than 350 degrees.

A lamp head 49 is mounted on the free outer end of the horizontal arm 23 and includes an artistically formed top 56 including a bottom wall 5| formed with an aperture 52. The back of the top 59 is open and is closed by a rear wall 53 secured in position by removable screws 54. A U-shaped bracket 55 is mounted on the inside face of the rear wall 53 and supports the usual fluorescent lamp 56 in position over the aperture 52 of the bottom wall 5|, see Fig. 10. Mounted on the bottom wall 5| within the top of the lamp head 49 there is a switch 51 having the usual operating buttons 58 and 59 projected from the bottom wall 5| to be depressed for turning the fluorescent lamp 59 on and off. Further details of the lamp head 49 will not be given in this specification and wiring between the transformer I2 and the lamp 53 has been omitted for clearness in illustrating the constructional details of the lamp and as such wiring is generally known in the art. It is pointed out, however, that the wires of the circuit are extended through the tubular arms 22 and 23 and the joints which connect the arms to the base I9, to each other and to the lamp head 49 and the contact parts which limit rotation of the various parts in any one direction are essential to prevent the internal wires from being twisted and broken due to excessive turning in any one direction.

Means is provided for connecting the lamp head 49 to the free end of the horizontal arm 23 so that the lamp head 49 may be turned relative to the horizontal arm 23 on horizontal axes which extend at right angles to each other. This means comprises a clamp 50 formed of separate sections BI and 62 and releasably connected together by a screw 93 which freely passes through the section El and which threadedly engage a projection 64 formed within the section 62, see Figs. 11 and 13.

The end of the horizontal arm 23 is formed with a stamped out boss 65 which engages aligned complementary grooves 99 formed on the inside faces of the sections 9| and 62. This permits rotation of the clamp 99 and the lamp head 49 about a horizontal axis which extends parallel to the length of the arm 23 and retains the clamp 69 against longitudinal movement relative to the arm 23. At the top of the grooves 66, the sections GI and 62 of the clamp 99 are formed with adjacent contact stops 6'! arranged to be engaged by the boss 95 to restrain rotational movements of the clamp 69 relative to the horizontal arm 23 through an are slightly less than 360 degrees to prevent twisting of the wires which pass through those parts.

The front ends of the sections 6! and 62 of the clamp 68 are cut away forming an opening 98 within which a ring 99 is disposed. Semi-circular ridges 19 extend from the sections GI and 62 on opposite sides of the opening 68 and extend into opposite sides of the ring 99 supporting the ring for pivotal movement relative to the clamp 60 about a horizontal axis which extends at right angles to the horizontal arm 23. The side of the ring 69 within the clamp 69 is formed with an elongated slot H through which pass the wires for conveying electrical energy to the fluorescent lamp 56.

The ring 69 is further formed with a radially depended tubular neck 1'2 formed intermediate of its ends with an outwardly extending flange 73 which engages the top face of the top 50 of the lamp head. The free end of the neck passes through an opening 14 formed in the top 50 and has its end milled over for clamping the top 59 in position on the neck 12 against the flange '13.

It is apparent that the present invention provides a novel lamp arrangement in which the lamp head 49 is universally supported relative to the base l9, so that the position of the lamp head 49 may be adjusted as desired to suitably illuminate any object or sheet of paper. While all joints are freely rotative their rotative freedom in any one direction is always limited to an arc of less than 360 degrees so as to protect the wires which pass through the hollow parts against damage caused by excessive turning in any one direction.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not lim t myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. Means rotatively attaching the bottom end of a vertical arm of a lamp to a hollow base including a top wall having a hole comprising a nut having an upper section and a lower section, said upper section being extended through the hole of the top wall and having an outwardly directed flange at its top and engaging the top face of the top wall, said upper section having an internal recess extended in from its bottom end and an aperture extended from the top of said recess through the top of said upper section, a bushing extended rotatively through said aperture and having an outwardly directed flange within said recess, the bottom end of the vertical arm being mounted on the top of said bushing, said lower section having a flange at its bottom end and being threaded into the bottom of said recess retaining the bushing in position in the top thereof, said upper section being vertically slidably but non-rotatively mounted through the top wall, and a spring retaining said nut in a lowered position with the flange of said upper section resting on the top face of the top wall and said spring bearing on the flange of the lower section, said vertically slidable but non-rotative mounting of said upper section comprising an inwardly extended projection formed on the material of the top wall surrounding the hole, said upper section being formed with a vertically extended groove into which said projection extends.

2. Means rotatively attaching the bottom end of a vertical arm of a lamp to a hollow base including a, top wall having a hole comprising a nut having an upper section and a lower section, said upper section being extended through the hole of the top wall and having an outwardly directed flange at its top end engaging the top face of the top wall, said upper section having an internal reces extended in from its bottom end and an aperture extended from the top of said recess through the top of said upper section, a bushing extended rotatively through said aperture and having anoutwardly directed flange withinsaid recess, the bottom end of the vertical arm being mounted on the top of said bushing, said lower section having a flange at its bottom end and being threaded into the bottom of said recess retaining the bushing in position in the top thereof, said upper section being vertically slidably but non-rotatively mounted through the top wall, and means retaining said nut in a lowered position with the flange of said upper section resting on the top face of the top wall, said retaining means comprising the outwardly extended flange formed on the bottom end of said lower section, and an expansion spring engaged about said upper section and operating between the bottom face of the top wall and the top face of the flange of said lower section.

MILTON FLETCHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,117,270 Sofio et al Nov. 17, 1914 2,048,313 Adolfson July 21, 1936 2,395,178 Fiori Feb. 19, 1946 2,434,986 Bremer Jan. 27, 1948 2,472,624 Schwartz June 7, 1949 

